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| My sister (Lisa) and me |
This is my sister. She lives in Kentucky and we only see each other a few times a year. I think we have such a close relationship because we are only 13 months apart in age. She is my role model, my confidante, and my best friend. We respect each other's opinions, we laugh together, we cry together, but most of all, we believe in each other. She supports me in my endeavors and I support her in hers.
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| My boys MY BOYS Brandon (and his girlfriend, Angel), Bobby and Ryan. I love the changing relationship I have with my boys. At first, I was their caregiver, nurterer, teacher, disciplinarian, maid, etc. In the late teens of the two olderst, my role seemed to be that of the "mean, uncool person who knew nothing about anything" (teens, after all, know more than your google search engine!) Luckily, we all survived that stage and now they value my opinion and we have a loving, respectful relationship. Hopefully my youngest, Ryan, will bypass that awful "know-it-all" stage! I love them with all my heart! COWORKERS, EXTENDED FAMILY, AND FRIENDS
My coworkers, extended family, and friends are a group of people that keep me grounded. They are supportive, respectful, caring and understanding. We enjoy each other's company due to common interests; however, there are many things we have different opinions on. I have come to realize that just because someone has an opinion that differs from mine, doesn't mean we can't be friends. I value the differences in others. I see it as a learning opportunity and I feel it makes us all better people to be accepting of other's ideas, opinions, beliefs, and values.
The people in all of these relationships have made me who I am today. Their honesty, kindness, and caring is what keeps our relationships strong. Sometimes being brutally honest with someone is needed to regain perspective. I think my relationships impact my work in the early childhood field in that the qualities I value are qualities I present to my families and children. Some challenges in maintaining relationships are distance and time. Sometimes it's hard to keep in touch with old friends because of busy schedules or living too far away. It is so important to have reciprocal communication. One person can't do everything in the relationship. Both need to show commitment to ongoing communication. Thank goodness for facebook and other social media. It is how I have been able to reconnect with old friends and colleagues.
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